Solar Impulse 2 takes flight for Europe

Solar Impulse 2 (SI2)
has taken off from New York on the next leg of its around the world
journey, which will take the zero fuel aircraft across the Atlantic
to Europe. The mission has already claimed 8 world records in an
attempt to highlight the potential of green technologies that could
help protect the environment from mankind's ever-increasing
footprint.

SI2 completed its crossing of the US on June 11 with a flight over the Statue of Liberty before landing at the John F. Kennedy Airport. The 15th leg of the journey was initially scheduled for Sunday, but adverse weather
conditions delayed the effort, forcing the 72 m (236
ft)wide aircraft
to shelter in Hanger 19 at JKF in the hope of
friendlier skies. Compared to previous setbacks suffered
by SI2, the delay was a minor inconvenience, with the Atlantic flight
lifting off at 2.30 AM EDT this morning.

The crossing is
expected to take around 90 hours, depending on the ever changing
weather conditions prevailing in the Atlantic, and is expected be
one of the most challenging legs of the trip for pilot Bertrand
Piccard to date. He will take his rest in 20 minute stints as
he maintains a near constant vigil, negotiating adverse weather
conditions such as localized rain showers, as well as the invisible
borders that mark out a country's airspace

If all goes well, SI2
will touch down in Seville Airport in Spain on June 23. After arriving in Europe, the solar-powered albatross will
continue to forge a path to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates,
where the ambitious endeavor to circumnavigate the globe began in
March 2015.

A live stream of the
Atlantic crossing is available for those interested in following the journey in real time.